US20100017753A1 - Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system - Google Patents
Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100017753A1 US20100017753A1 US12/175,086 US17508608A US2010017753A1 US 20100017753 A1 US20100017753 A1 US 20100017753A1 US 17508608 A US17508608 A US 17508608A US 2010017753 A1 US2010017753 A1 US 2010017753A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- names
- selection criteria
- local user
- name
- data sources
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
- G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
- H04L51/04—Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
- H04L51/21—Monitoring or handling of messages
- H04L51/214—Monitoring or handling of messages using selective forwarding
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/26—Devices for calling a subscriber
- H04M1/27—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
- H04M1/274—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc
- H04M1/2745—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
- H04M1/27467—Methods of retrieving data
- H04M1/2748—Methods of retrieving data by matching character strings
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
- H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
- H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
- H04M1/7243—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality with interactive means for internal management of messages
- H04M1/72436—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality with interactive means for internal management of messages for text messaging, e.g. SMS or e-mail
Definitions
- the invention relates generally to computer communications systems, such as instant messaging systems, and more specifically to a system and method for automatically populating chat recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system.
- Most existing instant messaging systems such as Yahoo!® Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM®), IBM® Lotus Sametime, etc., allow users to start a chat session by clicking on a person's screen name (also called a handle, nickname, or nick), as displayed within a buddy list user interface object, and/or located within a directory.
- a person's screen name also called a handle, nickname, or nick
- some existing instant messaging systems are embedded in other systems (e.g. IBM® Lotus Notes), such that a user can click on a person's name within an e-mail message entry to start a chat session with that person.
- a problem with existing systems instant messaging systems is the requirement that a person initiating a chat session must either be able to locate the other person's name in the buddy list, directory, or the like, or the chat initiator must know how to spell the other person's name. This is a problem in the many cases where a user wants to start a chat session quickly, but may not know how to spell the other person's screen name, and the other person's name is not stored in a buddy list, directory, etc., that is conveniently available to the initiating user. The chat initiator must accordingly manually look up the other person's name in an external resource, such as a meeting invitation, document, spreadsheet, Web application, etc.
- the initiating user has to first launch an external application first, and then manually copy and paste the other user's screen name or the like into the instant messaging system application before starting the chat session.
- the specific set of people desired may not already be organized into an existing group known by the instant messaging system, and may not even be known individually to the instant messaging system.
- the initiating user maybe required to individually enter each desired person in the group into their buddy list. This process requires many steps, and can make starting a group chat session difficult.
- the new system should advantageously address situations such as when a user is in a group meeting or the like, and needs to send information (e.g. conference meeting information, etc.) quickly to all meeting invitees without having to go into another application that stores the screen names, e-mail addresses, etc. of the desired chat participants.
- information e.g. conference meeting information, etc.
- chat recipients are automatically populated from external data sources, e.g. clipboard, spreadsheet, document, database, directory, etc., and a chat session started with the click of a single user interface button or the like.
- external data sources e.g. clipboard, spreadsheet, document, database, directory, etc.
- a button, menu action, or the like is generated that allows a user to start a chat session. After the user clicks on the button, a pop-up window is generated that allows the user to select the specific data source from which the chat recipients are to be obtained. Examples of data sources from which chat recipients may be obtained include a clipboard, file (e.g. word processing document, spreadsheet, text file, etc.), directory (e.g. LDAP directory, etc.), database, buddy list, address book, etc. If the user selects the clipboard or file as the data source, the data source is scanned to identify all candidate names that match a predetermined name format (e.g. valid screen names, e-mail addresses, RFC-821/SMTP e-mail addresses, proprietary formats, etc.).
- a predetermined name format e.g. valid screen names, e-mail addresses, RFC-821/SMTP e-mail addresses, proprietary formats, etc.
- the user is prompted to provide at least a portion of a search string.
- the disclosed system finds entries in the data source matching the search string provided by the user, and may further provide “type-ahead” functionality that fills in characters matching existing entries when the user starts to type in the portion of the search string.
- the user can then select which of the names returned as a result of searching the data source are to be used in initiating the chat session.
- the selected data source supports hierarchical information organization (e.g. as within an LDAP or the like)
- the disclosed system then generates user interface options allowing the user to initiate a chat session with recipients within a specified portion of the organization (e.g. all persons reporting to the initiating user or some other specified user, all peers of the initiating user or some other specified user, the initiating user's manager, etc.).
- the disclosed system then displays the resulting set of names or the like from which the initiating user can select one or more recipients for the chat session.
- the disclosed system then generates a user interface object allowing the initiating user to perform an action with the selected recipients, including initiating a chat session with all the selected recipients.
- Other options may further be provided in the user interface to the initiating user, including the option of sending a broadcast e-mail message to all of the selected users, adding all of the selected users to the initiating user's buddy list, etc.
- e-mail addresses of other users are selected by the initiating user for the purpose of initiating chat sessions with the corresponding users, automatically filling in recipients for a broadcast e-mail message, etc.
- chat recipient names do not have to be saved into a buddy list, address book, etc.
- transient chat sessions can be provided conveniently.
- chat initiator does not chat with the same group of participants often are supported without requiring the chat initiator to import and/or store the participant screen names into the buddy list, address book, etc.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing hardware and/or software components in an illustrative embodiment
- FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing steps performed during operation of an illustrative embodiment
- FIG. 3 is a first simplified screen shot showing user interface display objects generated in an illustrative embodiment.
- FIG. 4 is a second simplified screen shot showing user interface display objects generated in an illustrative embodiment.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing hardware and/or software components in an illustrative embodiment.
- a Client Computer System 10 includes Application Software 14 , Client Side Data Sources 15 , and Graphical User Interface 18 generated by the Application Software 14 .
- the Application Software 14 includes a number of Communication Applications 24 , shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1 as including an Instant Messaging Client 24 a, Electronic Mail Client 24 b, Online Meeting Client 24 c, etc.
- the Graphical User Interface 18 generated at least in part by the Application Software 14 includes a Communication Initiation Display Object 30 , a Data Source Selection Display Object 32 , a Matching Names Display Object 34 , and a Name Selection Criteria Entry Display Object 36 .
- the Communication Initiation Display Object 30 may, for example, be embodied using a graphical button, menu item, or any other specific type of graphical user interface display object, that allows the user to initially trigger operation of the disclosed system using a single selection operation, such as a mouse click or the like performed on the Communication Initiation Display Object 30 by a user of the Client Computer System 10 .
- the Data Source Selection Display Object 32 may be embodied as a list of user selectable data source names or any other specific type of graphical user interface display object that allows a user to select one or more of a set of displayed data source names.
- the Matching Names Display Object 34 may be embodied as a list of names, such as instant messaging screen names, electronic mail addresses, user names, etc., where the names contained in the list are names found in one or more currently selected user selected data sources that match the current name selection criteria.
- the Name Selection Criteria Entry Display Object 36 may be embodied using any type of user interface display object that allows a user of the Client Computer System 10 to enter at least a portion of the name selection criteria to be applied.
- the Software Clipboard 15 a may be embodied as any specific type of software program that is used for short-term storage of data as it is transferred by the user of the Client Computer System 10 between documents or applications, via copy and paste operations.
- the File 15 b and/or 13 a may be embodied as any specific type of file that contains one or more names (e.g. screen names, electronic mail addresses, user names, etc.), such as a text file, word processing application file, spreadsheet program file, etc.
- the Directory 15 c and/or 13 b may be embodied as any specific type of hierarchical directory, such as a directory of folders containing files or other folders in a file system provided in the client computer system 10 .
- the Database 15 d and/or 13 c may be embodied as any specific type of database.
- the Directory 15 c and/or Database 15 d may be embodied as compatible with the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) application protocol for querying directory services running over TCP/IP.
- LDAP Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
- the Directory 15 c and/or Database 15 d may be embodied as a hierarchical representation of members, e.g. employees, within a business organization, e.g. a company.
- the hierarchical representation of the business organization would reflect the reporting structure of the organization, with people that report to a given manager (“reports” of the manager) being located directly below that manager.
- employees at the same level of the business organization (“peers”) would be located at the same level within the hierarchical structure.
- any other specific hierarchical representation of persons may be used.
- the Electronic Address Book 15 e may be embodied using any specific software for storing entries containing contact and other information associated with corresponding contacts.
- each contact entry in the Electronic Address Book 15 e may consist fields for first name, last name, company name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, fax number, mobile phone number, and/or other information for the corresponding contact.
- the Client Computer System 10 of FIG. 1 may be any specific type of computer system and/or intelligent electronic device, such as a desktop, laptop, or palmtop computer system, and/or personal digital assistant, cell phone, or other electronic device.
- the Client Computer System 10 includes or controls a display device capable of displaying a graphical user interface (e.g. including Graphical User Interface 18 ) to a respective local user, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), cathode ray tube (CRT), interferometric modulator display (IMOD), light emitting diode (LED), or the like.
- a graphical user interface e.g. including Graphical User Interface 18
- LCD liquid crystal display
- CRT cathode ray tube
- MIMOD interferometric modulator display
- LED light emitting diode
- Application Software 14 Client Side Data Sources 15 and Server Side Data Sources 15 of FIG. 1 may be embodied using software or firmware, such as computer application program code, operating system program code, or middleware, and/or wholly or partly using digital hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and the like, and/or combinations of hardware and/or software or firmware.
- software or firmware such as computer application program code, operating system program code, or middleware, and/or wholly or partly using digital hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and the like, and/or combinations of hardware and/or software or firmware.
- ASICs application specific integrated circuits
- FPGAs field-programmable gate arrays
- the Client Computer System 10 and Server Computer System 12 of FIG. 1 may include one or more processors, and program storage, such as memory, for storing program code executable on such processors, as well as input/output devices and/or interfaces.
- the Client Computer System 10 and Server Computer System 12 are connected to a data communication network (e.g. the Internet, a Local Area Network, etc.) through one or more of such input/output devices or interfaces, and through which may further be provided communication to a number of other client systems and/or server systems.
- a data communication network e.g. the Internet, a Local Area Network, etc.
- FIG. 1 While for purposes of concise illustration only one client computer system and one server computer are shown in FIG. 1 , the disclosed system is not limited to any specific number of computer systems. Moreover, while certain functions are described as being performed in the Client Computer System 10 , the disclosed system is not limited to any specific configuration or implementation in that regard. Accordingly, operations described as occurring in the Client Computer System 10 may alternatively be performed in one or more interconnected server systems (e.g. Server Computer System 12 ). In addition, while the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1 is described using a client-server architecture, the disclosed system is not limited to such an embodiment, and may alternatively be embodied using any other specific type of system architecture that may be appropriate and/or advantageous for a given implementation.
- FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing steps performed during operation of an illustrative embodiment. The steps of FIG. 2 may, for example, be performed wholly or in part by the Application Software 14 , Client Side Data Sources 15 , and/or Server Side Data Sources 13 of FIG. 1 .
- the disclosed system generates a user interface including a communication initiation display object (e.g. Communication Initiation Display Object 30 ).
- a communication initiation display object e.g. Communication Initiation Display Object 30
- the disclosed system detects a local user selecting the communication initiation display object generated at step 50 , e.g. by clicking on the communication initiation display object.
- the disclosed system in response to detecting the user selecting the communication initiation display object at step 52 , the disclosed system generates a data source selection display object (e.g. Data Source Selection Display Object 32 ).
- the data source selection display object includes a list of user selectable data sources from which names can be obtained using the disclosed system (e.g. names of data sources shown in Client Side Data Sources 15 and Server Side Data Sources 13 ).
- the disclosed system detects user selection of one or more of the data sources displayed in the data source selection display object generated in step 54 .
- the disclosed system also inputs name selection criteria to be applied when searching and/or scanning the selected data sources (e.g. through the Name Selection Criteria Input Display Object 36 ).
- the name selection criteria input from the local user at step 56 may, for example, include text that is to be matched within any names that are determined to match the name selection criteria. Accordingly, in such an embodiment, if the local user enters the string “Thomas” as name selection criteria, then only names including the character string “Thomas” will be considered to match the name selection criteria.
- the disclosed system searches and/or scans the data sources selected by the user at step 56 for names matching the name selection criteria. For example, for any selected data sources that include text that can be searched, e.g. a software clipboard, text file, spreadsheet file, etc., the disclosed system may be embodied such that those data sources are scanned for text strings that match a pre-determined format. In this way, the disclosed system may be embodied to scan such data sources for valid screen names, electronic mail addresses, user names, etc. In one embodiment, the disclosed system scans one or more selected data sources at step 58 to find electronic mail addresses contained in the data sources that are conformant with the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) as set forth in RFC-821. Alternatively, or in addition, the disclosed system may scan one or more selected data sources at step 58 to find all screen names and/or electronic mail addresses that are conformant with a predetermined proprietary format.
- SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
- the disclosed system may be embodied such that at step 58 that selected data source is searched for names based on the represented hierarchy. For example, in such an embodiment, the user may be prompted to enter name selection criteria at step 56 indicating some portion of the hierarchically organized data source.
- Such name selection criteria may, for example, include indication that names are to be returned for all employees of the business organization that report to a given manager, a managers that a given employee reports to, all employees that are at the same level of the hierarchy as a given employee (“peers” of the given employee), etc.
- the disclosed system displays all names determined to match the name selection criteria in step 58 to the local user (e.g. in Matching Names Display Object 34 ).
- the disclosed system detects which of the names displayed at step 60 have been selected by the user (e.g. by the user clicking on them). Thus the user can select a subset or all of the names displayed at step 60 to use for initiating a communication.
- the disclosed system initiates a user selected communication using the names selected by the user. For example, the disclosed system may initiate a group chat session by sending an instant message to all the names selected by the local user, send an electronic mail message to all the names selected by the local user, or start an online meeting with all the names selected by the local user. Alternatively, the disclosed system may add all the names selected by the local user to a buddy list of the local user maintained by the instant messaging application.
- the specific type of communication initiated with the user selected names at step 62 may be pre-configured or user selectable.
- a user interface object may be generated at step 62 (e.g. a menu, drop down list, etc.) that enables the local user to select from any of the above described communication operations to be performed.
- FIG. 3 is a first simplified screen shot showing user interface display objects generated in an illustrative embodiment.
- the display object 72 is an example of at least a portion of the Name Selection Criteria Entry Display Object 36 in FIG. 1 .
- the user is allowed to enter name selection criteria consisting of text that must be matched in the names returned from the selected data sources.
- the disclosed system operates to provide type-ahead functionality such that as the user enter each character, those names in the selected data sources that match the characters entered by the user are displayed in the list 78 . Accordingly, as shown for purposes of illustration in FIG.
- the user has typed in the letters “car”, and the disclosed system has generated a list 78 of names in the previously selected data sources that each include the string “car” within them.
- the list 78 is an example of the Matching Names Display Object 34 of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a second simplified screen shot showing user interface display objects generated in an illustrative embodiment.
- the disclosed system has now detected that the local user has now clicked on the name 80 in the list 78 , and as a result has generated the display object 82 , which includes a list of clickable commands that the user can perform.
- the display object 82 is a further example of how the user can input name selection criteria into the disclosed system, since it allows the user to further refine how names in the previously selected data source(s) are selected.
- the selectable options provided to the user in list 82 include initiating a chat session with the selected name 80 as the chat recipient (“Chat with . . .
- the disclosed system can take the form of an entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment containing both software and hardware elements.
- the figures include block diagram and flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus(s) and computer program products according to an embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that each block in such figures, and combinations of these blocks, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks.
- These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the block or blocks.
- the computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks.
- programs defining the functions of the present invention can be delivered to a computer in many forms; including, but not limited to: (a) information permanently stored on non-writable storage media (e.g. read only memory devices within a computer such as ROM or CD-ROM disks readable by a computer I/O attachment); and/or (b) information alterably stored on writable storage media (e.g. floppy disks and hard drives).
- non-writable storage media e.g. read only memory devices within a computer such as ROM or CD-ROM disks readable by a computer I/O attachment
- information alterably stored on writable storage media e.g. floppy disks and hard drives.
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates generally to computer communications systems, such as instant messaging systems, and more specifically to a system and method for automatically populating chat recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system.
- Most existing instant messaging systems, such as Yahoo!® Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM®), IBM® Lotus Sametime, etc., allow users to start a chat session by clicking on a person's screen name (also called a handle, nickname, or nick), as displayed within a buddy list user interface object, and/or located within a directory. In addition, some existing instant messaging systems are embedded in other systems (e.g. IBM® Lotus Notes), such that a user can click on a person's name within an e-mail message entry to start a chat session with that person. A problem with existing systems instant messaging systems is the requirement that a person initiating a chat session must either be able to locate the other person's name in the buddy list, directory, or the like, or the chat initiator must know how to spell the other person's name. This is a problem in the many cases where a user wants to start a chat session quickly, but may not know how to spell the other person's screen name, and the other person's name is not stored in a buddy list, directory, etc., that is conveniently available to the initiating user. The chat initiator must accordingly manually look up the other person's name in an external resource, such as a meeting invitation, document, spreadsheet, Web application, etc. To do so, the initiating user has to first launch an external application first, and then manually copy and paste the other user's screen name or the like into the instant messaging system application before starting the chat session. Moreover, when a user wants to start a group chat session involving multiple other people, the specific set of people desired may not already be organized into an existing group known by the instant messaging system, and may not even be known individually to the instant messaging system. In such a case, the initiating user maybe required to individually enter each desired person in the group into their buddy list. This process requires many steps, and can make starting a group chat session difficult.
- In some existing systems (e.g. IBM® Lotus Notes) the user can highlight or select a command (e.g. “Chat with All”) that causes a group session to be initiated with all other users that are recipients of an e-mail message. However, such solutions fail to address the problem of working within a stand-alone instant messaging application in the situation where the other user's screen name is not in the instant messaging system directory.
- In other existing systems (e.g. ContactCopy of LoquiSoft), manually highlighted identifiers can be copied into an address book with the click of a button. However, the system still requires that the user add the contacts into an address book before performing useful actions, e.g. before initiating a group chat session.
- For the above reasons and others it would be desirable to have a new system that allows a user to conveniently initiate a “transient” instant messaging session without having to add the other participants' names into an address book or the like prior to initiating the session. The new system should advantageously address situations such as when a user is in a group meeting or the like, and needs to send information (e.g. conference meeting information, etc.) quickly to all meeting invitees without having to go into another application that stores the screen names, e-mail addresses, etc. of the desired chat participants.
- To address the above described and other shortcomings of existing systems, a system and a method for automatically populating chat recipients in an instant messaging system are disclosed. In the disclosed system, chat recipients are automatically populated from external data sources, e.g. clipboard, spreadsheet, document, database, directory, etc., and a chat session started with the click of a single user interface button or the like.
- A button, menu action, or the like, is generated that allows a user to start a chat session. After the user clicks on the button, a pop-up window is generated that allows the user to select the specific data source from which the chat recipients are to be obtained. Examples of data sources from which chat recipients may be obtained include a clipboard, file (e.g. word processing document, spreadsheet, text file, etc.), directory (e.g. LDAP directory, etc.), database, buddy list, address book, etc. If the user selects the clipboard or file as the data source, the data source is scanned to identify all candidate names that match a predetermined name format (e.g. valid screen names, e-mail addresses, RFC-821/SMTP e-mail addresses, proprietary formats, etc.). If the user selects a searchable database, buddy list, address book, etc., the user is prompted to provide at least a portion of a search string. The disclosed system then finds entries in the data source matching the search string provided by the user, and may further provide “type-ahead” functionality that fills in characters matching existing entries when the user starts to type in the portion of the search string. The user can then select which of the names returned as a result of searching the data source are to be used in initiating the chat session. In addition, if the selected data source supports hierarchical information organization (e.g. as within an LDAP or the like), the disclosed system then generates user interface options allowing the user to initiate a chat session with recipients within a specified portion of the organization (e.g. all persons reporting to the initiating user or some other specified user, all peers of the initiating user or some other specified user, the initiating user's manager, etc.).
- The disclosed system then displays the resulting set of names or the like from which the initiating user can select one or more recipients for the chat session. The disclosed system then generates a user interface object allowing the initiating user to perform an action with the selected recipients, including initiating a chat session with all the selected recipients. Other options may further be provided in the user interface to the initiating user, including the option of sending a broadcast e-mail message to all of the selected users, adding all of the selected users to the initiating user's buddy list, etc.
- While embodiments of the disclosed system are described herein with reference to accessing and selecting screen names used in an instant messaging sessions, the disclosed system is not so limited. Accordingly, In an alternative embodiment, e-mail addresses of other users are selected by the initiating user for the purpose of initiating chat sessions with the corresponding users, automatically filling in recipients for a broadcast e-mail message, etc.
- The advantages of the disclosed system include the fact that chat recipient names do not have to be saved into a buddy list, address book, etc., and transient chat sessions can be provided conveniently. Thus, situations where the chat initiator does not chat with the same group of participants often are supported without requiring the chat initiator to import and/or store the participant screen names into the buddy list, address book, etc.
- In order to facilitate a fuller understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the appended drawings. These drawings should not be construed as limiting the present invention, but are intended to be exemplary only.
-
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing hardware and/or software components in an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing steps performed during operation of an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 3 is a first simplified screen shot showing user interface display objects generated in an illustrative embodiment; and -
FIG. 4 is a second simplified screen shot showing user interface display objects generated in an illustrative embodiment. -
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing hardware and/or software components in an illustrative embodiment. As shown inFIG. 1 , aClient Computer System 10 includesApplication Software 14, Client Side Data Sources 15, and Graphical User Interface 18 generated by theApplication Software 14. TheApplication Software 14 includes a number ofCommunication Applications 24, shown in the illustrative embodiment ofFIG. 1 as including anInstant Messaging Client 24 a,Electronic Mail Client 24 b,Online Meeting Client 24 c, etc. The Graphical User Interface 18 generated at least in part by theApplication Software 14 includes a CommunicationInitiation Display Object 30, a Data SourceSelection Display Object 32, a MatchingNames Display Object 34, and a Name Selection CriteriaEntry Display Object 36. - The Communication
Initiation Display Object 30 may, for example, be embodied using a graphical button, menu item, or any other specific type of graphical user interface display object, that allows the user to initially trigger operation of the disclosed system using a single selection operation, such as a mouse click or the like performed on the CommunicationInitiation Display Object 30 by a user of theClient Computer System 10. The Data SourceSelection Display Object 32 may be embodied as a list of user selectable data source names or any other specific type of graphical user interface display object that allows a user to select one or more of a set of displayed data source names. The MatchingNames Display Object 34 may be embodied as a list of names, such as instant messaging screen names, electronic mail addresses, user names, etc., where the names contained in the list are names found in one or more currently selected user selected data sources that match the current name selection criteria. The Name Selection CriteriaEntry Display Object 36 may be embodied using any type of user interface display object that allows a user of theClient Computer System 10 to enter at least a portion of the name selection criteria to be applied. - The Software Clipboard 15 a may be embodied as any specific type of software program that is used for short-term storage of data as it is transferred by the user of the
Client Computer System 10 between documents or applications, via copy and paste operations. TheFile 15 b and/or 13 a may be embodied as any specific type of file that contains one or more names (e.g. screen names, electronic mail addresses, user names, etc.), such as a text file, word processing application file, spreadsheet program file, etc. TheDirectory 15 c and/or 13 b may be embodied as any specific type of hierarchical directory, such as a directory of folders containing files or other folders in a file system provided in theclient computer system 10. TheDatabase 15 d and/or 13 c may be embodied as any specific type of database. TheDirectory 15 c and/orDatabase 15 d may be embodied as compatible with the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) application protocol for querying directory services running over TCP/IP. For example, theDirectory 15 c and/orDatabase 15 d may be embodied as a hierarchical representation of members, e.g. employees, within a business organization, e.g. a company. In such an embodiment, the hierarchical representation of the business organization would reflect the reporting structure of the organization, with people that report to a given manager (“reports” of the manager) being located directly below that manager. Similarly, in such an embodiment, employees at the same level of the business organization (“peers”) would be located at the same level within the hierarchical structure. Alternatively, any other specific hierarchical representation of persons may be used. - The
Electronic Address Book 15e may be embodied using any specific software for storing entries containing contact and other information associated with corresponding contacts. For example, each contact entry in theElectronic Address Book 15 e may consist fields for first name, last name, company name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, fax number, mobile phone number, and/or other information for the corresponding contact. - The
Client Computer System 10 ofFIG. 1 may be any specific type of computer system and/or intelligent electronic device, such as a desktop, laptop, or palmtop computer system, and/or personal digital assistant, cell phone, or other electronic device. TheClient Computer System 10 includes or controls a display device capable of displaying a graphical user interface (e.g. including Graphical User Interface 18) to a respective local user, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), cathode ray tube (CRT), interferometric modulator display (IMOD), light emitting diode (LED), or the like. - Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the
Application Software 14, Client Side Data Sources 15 and Server Side Data Sources 15 ofFIG. 1 may be embodied using software or firmware, such as computer application program code, operating system program code, or middleware, and/or wholly or partly using digital hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and the like, and/or combinations of hardware and/or software or firmware. - Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the
Client Computer System 10 andServer Computer System 12 ofFIG. 1 may include one or more processors, and program storage, such as memory, for storing program code executable on such processors, as well as input/output devices and/or interfaces. In the example ofFIG. 1 , theClient Computer System 10 andServer Computer System 12 are connected to a data communication network (e.g. the Internet, a Local Area Network, etc.) through one or more of such input/output devices or interfaces, and through which may further be provided communication to a number of other client systems and/or server systems. - While for purposes of concise illustration only one client computer system and one server computer are shown in
FIG. 1 , the disclosed system is not limited to any specific number of computer systems. Moreover, while certain functions are described as being performed in theClient Computer System 10, the disclosed system is not limited to any specific configuration or implementation in that regard. Accordingly, operations described as occurring in theClient Computer System 10 may alternatively be performed in one or more interconnected server systems (e.g. Server Computer System 12). In addition, while the illustrative embodiment ofFIG. 1 is described using a client-server architecture, the disclosed system is not limited to such an embodiment, and may alternatively be embodied using any other specific type of system architecture that may be appropriate and/or advantageous for a given implementation. -
FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing steps performed during operation of an illustrative embodiment. The steps ofFIG. 2 may, for example, be performed wholly or in part by theApplication Software 14, Client Side Data Sources 15, and/or Server Side Data Sources 13 ofFIG. 1 . - At
step 50, the disclosed system generates a user interface including a communication initiation display object (e.g. Communication Initiation Display Object 30). Atstep 52, the disclosed system detects a local user selecting the communication initiation display object generated atstep 50, e.g. by clicking on the communication initiation display object. Atstep 54, in response to detecting the user selecting the communication initiation display object atstep 52, the disclosed system generates a data source selection display object (e.g. Data Source Selection Display Object 32). The data source selection display object includes a list of user selectable data sources from which names can be obtained using the disclosed system (e.g. names of data sources shown in Client Side Data Sources 15 and Server Side Data Sources 13). - At
step 56, the disclosed system detects user selection of one or more of the data sources displayed in the data source selection display object generated instep 54. In one embodiment, atstep 56 the disclosed system also inputs name selection criteria to be applied when searching and/or scanning the selected data sources (e.g. through the Name Selection Criteria Input Display Object 36). The name selection criteria input from the local user atstep 56 may, for example, include text that is to be matched within any names that are determined to match the name selection criteria. Accordingly, in such an embodiment, if the local user enters the string “Thomas” as name selection criteria, then only names including the character string “Thomas” will be considered to match the name selection criteria. - At
step 58, the disclosed system searches and/or scans the data sources selected by the user atstep 56 for names matching the name selection criteria. For example, for any selected data sources that include text that can be searched, e.g. a software clipboard, text file, spreadsheet file, etc., the disclosed system may be embodied such that those data sources are scanned for text strings that match a pre-determined format. In this way, the disclosed system may be embodied to scan such data sources for valid screen names, electronic mail addresses, user names, etc. In one embodiment, the disclosed system scans one or more selected data sources atstep 58 to find electronic mail addresses contained in the data sources that are conformant with the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) as set forth in RFC-821. Alternatively, or in addition, the disclosed system may scan one or more selected data sources atstep 58 to find all screen names and/or electronic mail addresses that are conformant with a predetermined proprietary format. - In addition, or alternatively, if the user selects one or more data sources at
step 56 that include a hierarchical organization of information, e.g. a database and/or LDAP directory that represents employees in a business organization in terms of reporting hierarchy, the disclosed system may be embodied such that atstep 58 that selected data source is searched for names based on the represented hierarchy. For example, in such an embodiment, the user may be prompted to enter name selection criteria atstep 56 indicating some portion of the hierarchically organized data source. Such name selection criteria may, for example, include indication that names are to be returned for all employees of the business organization that report to a given manager, a managers that a given employee reports to, all employees that are at the same level of the hierarchy as a given employee (“peers” of the given employee), etc. - At
step 60, the disclosed system displays all names determined to match the name selection criteria instep 58 to the local user (e.g. in Matching Names Display Object 34). Atstep 62 the disclosed system detects which of the names displayed atstep 60 have been selected by the user (e.g. by the user clicking on them). Thus the user can select a subset or all of the names displayed atstep 60 to use for initiating a communication. Further atstep 62, the disclosed system initiates a user selected communication using the names selected by the user. For example, the disclosed system may initiate a group chat session by sending an instant message to all the names selected by the local user, send an electronic mail message to all the names selected by the local user, or start an online meeting with all the names selected by the local user. Alternatively, the disclosed system may add all the names selected by the local user to a buddy list of the local user maintained by the instant messaging application. - The specific type of communication initiated with the user selected names at
step 62 may be pre-configured or user selectable. For example, a user interface object may be generated at step 62 (e.g. a menu, drop down list, etc.) that enables the local user to select from any of the above described communication operations to be performed. -
FIG. 3 is a first simplified screen shot showing user interface display objects generated in an illustrative embodiment. Thedisplay object 72 is an example of at least a portion of the Name Selection CriteriaEntry Display Object 36 inFIG. 1 . In the embodiment ofFIG. 3 , the user is allowed to enter name selection criteria consisting of text that must be matched in the names returned from the selected data sources. Moreover, in the embodiment ofFIG. 3 , the disclosed system operates to provide type-ahead functionality such that as the user enter each character, those names in the selected data sources that match the characters entered by the user are displayed in thelist 78. Accordingly, as shown for purposes of illustration inFIG. 3 , the user has typed in the letters “car”, and the disclosed system has generated alist 78 of names in the previously selected data sources that each include the string “car” within them. Thelist 78 is an example of the MatchingNames Display Object 34 ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a second simplified screen shot showing user interface display objects generated in an illustrative embodiment. The disclosed system has now detected that the local user has now clicked on thename 80 in thelist 78, and as a result has generated thedisplay object 82, which includes a list of clickable commands that the user can perform. Thedisplay object 82 is a further example of how the user can input name selection criteria into the disclosed system, since it allows the user to further refine how names in the previously selected data source(s) are selected. As shown inFIG. 4 , the selectable options provided to the user inlist 82 include initiating a chat session with the selectedname 80 as the chat recipient (“Chat with . . . ”), initiating a chat session with all persons that report to the user with the selected name (“Chat with All reports . . . ”), initiating a chat session with all persons that are peers of the user with the selected name (“Chat with All peers . . . ”), adding the selected name to the user's instant messaging contact list or buddy list (“Add to Instant Contact List . . . ”), adding all persons reporting to the person with the selected name to the user's instant messaging contact list or buddy list (“Add All reports to Instant Contact List . . . ”), and adding all peers of the person with the selected name to the user's contact list or buddy list (“Add All peers to Instant Contact List . . . ”). It will be recognized that the options shown in thelist 82 are given only for purposes of illustration, and other options may alternatively or additionally be provided. Similarly, while only oneuser 80 is selected in the example ofFIG. 4 , the user may alternatively select (e.g. click on, etc.) multiple users from thelist 78. In addition, while the above description and accompanying figures makes reference to and/or shows certain examples that include names consisting of electronic mail addresses and/or instant messaging screen names, the embodiments of the disclosed system are not limited in application or design to use of only electronic mail addresses and/or screen names, and may accordingly use either electronic mail addresses and/or screen names, as may be appropriate or advantageous. - While the above description regarding illustrative embodiments of the disclosed system includes examples of specific user interface operations and/or display objects, the disclosed system is not limited to these specific embodiments. Accordingly, the user interface objects provided herein may be modified as appropriate for various alternative embodiments, using various specific configurations of graphical buttons, menus, dialog boxes, and the like. Those skilled in the art will accordingly recognize that alternative embodiments may use any specific type or kind of user interface display object that may be appropriate to provide the specific operations described.
- The disclosed system can take the form of an entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment containing both software and hardware elements. The figures include block diagram and flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus(s) and computer program products according to an embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that each block in such figures, and combinations of these blocks, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks.
- Those skilled in the art should readily appreciate that programs defining the functions of the present invention can be delivered to a computer in many forms; including, but not limited to: (a) information permanently stored on non-writable storage media (e.g. read only memory devices within a computer such as ROM or CD-ROM disks readable by a computer I/O attachment); and/or (b) information alterably stored on writable storage media (e.g. floppy disks and hard drives).
- While the invention is described through the above exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that modification to and variation of the illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the inventive concepts herein disclosed.
Claims (26)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/175,086 US8423905B2 (en) | 2008-07-17 | 2008-07-17 | Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system |
US13/848,680 US9363211B2 (en) | 2008-07-17 | 2013-03-21 | Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/175,086 US8423905B2 (en) | 2008-07-17 | 2008-07-17 | Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/848,680 Continuation US9363211B2 (en) | 2008-07-17 | 2013-03-21 | Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100017753A1 true US20100017753A1 (en) | 2010-01-21 |
US8423905B2 US8423905B2 (en) | 2013-04-16 |
Family
ID=41531379
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/175,086 Expired - Fee Related US8423905B2 (en) | 2008-07-17 | 2008-07-17 | Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system |
US13/848,680 Expired - Fee Related US9363211B2 (en) | 2008-07-17 | 2013-03-21 | Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/848,680 Expired - Fee Related US9363211B2 (en) | 2008-07-17 | 2013-03-21 | Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US8423905B2 (en) |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100312836A1 (en) * | 2009-06-03 | 2010-12-09 | Microsoft Corporation | Traversing between electronic mail and real time communications |
CN102546745A (en) * | 2010-12-06 | 2012-07-04 | 国际商业机器公司 | Methods and systems for social network relationship mapping |
US20130332553A1 (en) * | 2009-04-08 | 2013-12-12 | Blackberry Limited | System and Method for Managing Items in a List Shared by a Group of Mobile Devices |
US20140082522A1 (en) * | 2012-09-14 | 2014-03-20 | Microsoft Corporation | Managing modality views on conversation canvas |
EP2790142A1 (en) * | 2013-04-10 | 2014-10-15 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Terminal apparatus, server and method of controlling the same |
US9037602B2 (en) | 2011-03-22 | 2015-05-19 | International Business Machines Corporation | Automatic correction of contact list errors in a collaboration system |
WO2015171565A1 (en) * | 2014-05-05 | 2015-11-12 | Thomson Reuters Global Resources | Bilateral chat for instant messaging |
US9424359B1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2016-08-23 | Twitter, Inc. | Typeahead using messages of a messaging platform |
CN107256109A (en) * | 2017-05-27 | 2017-10-17 | 北京小米移动软件有限公司 | Method for information display, device and terminal |
US9811808B2 (en) | 2013-02-12 | 2017-11-07 | International Business Machines Corporation | Meeting notifications for offline invitees |
US10148712B2 (en) * | 2011-02-04 | 2018-12-04 | International Business Machines Corporation | Automated social network introductions for e-meetings |
CN109766162A (en) * | 2019-01-15 | 2019-05-17 | 深圳乐信软件技术有限公司 | A kind of control method, device, server and the storage medium of bullet layer |
US10951560B1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2021-03-16 | Twitter, Inc. | Ranking messages of conversation graphs in a messaging platform using predictive outcomes |
US11042599B1 (en) | 2013-01-08 | 2021-06-22 | Twitter, Inc. | Identifying relevant messages in a conversation graph |
US11057322B1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2021-07-06 | Twitter, Inc. | Ranking messages of conversation graphs in a messaging platform using machine-learning signals |
US11516155B1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2022-11-29 | Twitter, Inc. | Hard and soft ranking messages of conversation graphs in a messaging platform |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9734323B2 (en) * | 2013-01-25 | 2017-08-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | Controlling which users from an organization are to be part of a community space in an easy and error-free manner |
US9617009B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2017-04-11 | United Technologies Corporation | ATR full ring sliding nacelle |
US9435293B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2016-09-06 | United Technologies Corporation | Full ring sliding nacelle with thrust reverser |
US9670876B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2017-06-06 | United Technologies Corporation | Tandem thrust reverser with sliding rails |
US9939991B2 (en) * | 2014-06-25 | 2018-04-10 | Oracle International Corporation | Tile visualizations for navigating hierarchical data on mobile devices |
CN105978792B (en) * | 2016-05-16 | 2019-12-10 | 泉州市协升礼品有限公司 | management method for instant messaging multi-person chat topic |
US20180375805A1 (en) * | 2017-06-23 | 2018-12-27 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Collecting Information in a Messaging System |
US11928136B2 (en) * | 2021-04-09 | 2024-03-12 | Veeva Systems Inc. | Computing networks and systems for tracking data |
Citations (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6075851A (en) * | 1996-03-11 | 2000-06-13 | Mitel Corporation | Organization chart based call information routing |
US20030014477A1 (en) * | 2000-03-22 | 2003-01-16 | Oppenheimer David Mig | Integrated system and method of providing online access to files |
US20030126137A1 (en) * | 2001-06-18 | 2003-07-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Dynamic group generation and management |
US20030191806A1 (en) * | 2002-04-08 | 2003-10-09 | Osterberg Donald H. | Hierarchical org-chart based email mailing list maintenance |
US20040010554A1 (en) * | 2002-07-15 | 2004-01-15 | Hall John M. | Determining a destination e-mail address for sending scanned documents |
US20040161080A1 (en) * | 2003-02-14 | 2004-08-19 | Digate Charles J. | Rules based real-time communication system |
US20040167866A1 (en) * | 2003-02-26 | 2004-08-26 | Kaw Bindu Kaul | Data interoperability between open standard directory service and proprietary database |
US20040199581A1 (en) * | 2002-11-18 | 2004-10-07 | Valerie Kucharewski | People lists |
US20040267670A1 (en) * | 2003-06-27 | 2004-12-30 | Wrq, Inc. | Utilizing LDAP directories for application access control and personalization |
US20050102368A1 (en) * | 2003-11-12 | 2005-05-12 | Forman George H. | Email attribute system using external databases |
US20050216444A1 (en) * | 2004-03-25 | 2005-09-29 | Ritter Gerd M | Relationship-based searching |
US6990495B1 (en) * | 2001-09-05 | 2006-01-24 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | System and method for finding persons in a corporate entity |
US20060288298A1 (en) * | 1999-08-12 | 2006-12-21 | Robert Haitani | System, method and technique for enabling users to interact with address fields of messaging applications |
US20070198643A1 (en) * | 2006-02-21 | 2007-08-23 | Cope Ronald S | Address retrieval system and method |
US20070226632A1 (en) * | 2006-03-21 | 2007-09-27 | Nokia Corporation | Method, electronic device and computer program product for enhancing contact list functionality |
US20070255789A1 (en) * | 2006-05-01 | 2007-11-01 | Buchheit Brian K | Dynamic set operations when specifying email recipients |
US20070294428A1 (en) * | 2006-06-19 | 2007-12-20 | Ido Guy | Method and System for Email Messaging |
US20090031232A1 (en) * | 2007-07-25 | 2009-01-29 | Matthew Brezina | Method and System for Display of Information in a Communication System Gathered from External Sources |
US7752167B1 (en) * | 2000-09-27 | 2010-07-06 | Palmsource Inc. | Method and apparatus for importing and exporting directory and calendar information to and from personal information management applications |
US7761439B1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2010-07-20 | Google Inc. | Systems and methods for performing a directory search |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7853656B2 (en) * | 2005-09-01 | 2010-12-14 | Research In Motion Limited | Method and device for predicting message recipients |
US20080104075A1 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-05-01 | Roland Heumesser | Distribution list navigator |
-
2008
- 2008-07-17 US US12/175,086 patent/US8423905B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2013
- 2013-03-21 US US13/848,680 patent/US9363211B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6075851A (en) * | 1996-03-11 | 2000-06-13 | Mitel Corporation | Organization chart based call information routing |
US20060288298A1 (en) * | 1999-08-12 | 2006-12-21 | Robert Haitani | System, method and technique for enabling users to interact with address fields of messaging applications |
US20030014477A1 (en) * | 2000-03-22 | 2003-01-16 | Oppenheimer David Mig | Integrated system and method of providing online access to files |
US7752167B1 (en) * | 2000-09-27 | 2010-07-06 | Palmsource Inc. | Method and apparatus for importing and exporting directory and calendar information to and from personal information management applications |
US20030126137A1 (en) * | 2001-06-18 | 2003-07-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Dynamic group generation and management |
US6990495B1 (en) * | 2001-09-05 | 2006-01-24 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | System and method for finding persons in a corporate entity |
US20030191806A1 (en) * | 2002-04-08 | 2003-10-09 | Osterberg Donald H. | Hierarchical org-chart based email mailing list maintenance |
US20040010554A1 (en) * | 2002-07-15 | 2004-01-15 | Hall John M. | Determining a destination e-mail address for sending scanned documents |
US20040199581A1 (en) * | 2002-11-18 | 2004-10-07 | Valerie Kucharewski | People lists |
US20040161080A1 (en) * | 2003-02-14 | 2004-08-19 | Digate Charles J. | Rules based real-time communication system |
US20040167866A1 (en) * | 2003-02-26 | 2004-08-26 | Kaw Bindu Kaul | Data interoperability between open standard directory service and proprietary database |
US20040267670A1 (en) * | 2003-06-27 | 2004-12-30 | Wrq, Inc. | Utilizing LDAP directories for application access control and personalization |
US20050102368A1 (en) * | 2003-11-12 | 2005-05-12 | Forman George H. | Email attribute system using external databases |
US20050216444A1 (en) * | 2004-03-25 | 2005-09-29 | Ritter Gerd M | Relationship-based searching |
US7761439B1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2010-07-20 | Google Inc. | Systems and methods for performing a directory search |
US20070198643A1 (en) * | 2006-02-21 | 2007-08-23 | Cope Ronald S | Address retrieval system and method |
US20070226632A1 (en) * | 2006-03-21 | 2007-09-27 | Nokia Corporation | Method, electronic device and computer program product for enhancing contact list functionality |
US20070255789A1 (en) * | 2006-05-01 | 2007-11-01 | Buchheit Brian K | Dynamic set operations when specifying email recipients |
US20070294428A1 (en) * | 2006-06-19 | 2007-12-20 | Ido Guy | Method and System for Email Messaging |
US20090031232A1 (en) * | 2007-07-25 | 2009-01-29 | Matthew Brezina | Method and System for Display of Information in a Communication System Gathered from External Sources |
Cited By (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8983518B2 (en) * | 2009-04-08 | 2015-03-17 | Blackberry Limited | System and method for managing items in a list shared by a group of mobile devices |
US20130332553A1 (en) * | 2009-04-08 | 2013-12-12 | Blackberry Limited | System and Method for Managing Items in a List Shared by a Group of Mobile Devices |
US8438225B2 (en) * | 2009-06-03 | 2013-05-07 | Microsoft Corporation | Traversing between electronic mail and real time communications |
US20100312836A1 (en) * | 2009-06-03 | 2010-12-09 | Microsoft Corporation | Traversing between electronic mail and real time communications |
CN102546745A (en) * | 2010-12-06 | 2012-07-04 | 国际商业机器公司 | Methods and systems for social network relationship mapping |
US8977979B2 (en) | 2010-12-06 | 2015-03-10 | International Business Machines Corporation | Social network relationship mapping |
US10148712B2 (en) * | 2011-02-04 | 2018-12-04 | International Business Machines Corporation | Automated social network introductions for e-meetings |
US9037602B2 (en) | 2011-03-22 | 2015-05-19 | International Business Machines Corporation | Automatic correction of contact list errors in a collaboration system |
US9083816B2 (en) * | 2012-09-14 | 2015-07-14 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Managing modality views on conversation canvas |
US20140082522A1 (en) * | 2012-09-14 | 2014-03-20 | Microsoft Corporation | Managing modality views on conversation canvas |
US10009298B2 (en) | 2012-09-14 | 2018-06-26 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Managing modality views on conversation canvas |
US11042599B1 (en) | 2013-01-08 | 2021-06-22 | Twitter, Inc. | Identifying relevant messages in a conversation graph |
US9811808B2 (en) | 2013-02-12 | 2017-11-07 | International Business Machines Corporation | Meeting notifications for offline invitees |
US9424359B1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2016-08-23 | Twitter, Inc. | Typeahead using messages of a messaging platform |
US10521484B1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2019-12-31 | Twitter, Inc. | Typeahead using messages of a messaging platform |
US9886515B1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2018-02-06 | Twitter, Inc. | Typeahead using messages of a messaging platform |
EP2790142A1 (en) * | 2013-04-10 | 2014-10-15 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Terminal apparatus, server and method of controlling the same |
US9712333B2 (en) | 2014-05-05 | 2017-07-18 | Thomson Reuters Global Resources Unlimited Company | Bilateral chat for instant messaging |
WO2015171565A1 (en) * | 2014-05-05 | 2015-11-12 | Thomson Reuters Global Resources | Bilateral chat for instant messaging |
CN107256109A (en) * | 2017-05-27 | 2017-10-17 | 北京小米移动软件有限公司 | Method for information display, device and terminal |
CN109766162A (en) * | 2019-01-15 | 2019-05-17 | 深圳乐信软件技术有限公司 | A kind of control method, device, server and the storage medium of bullet layer |
US10951560B1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2021-03-16 | Twitter, Inc. | Ranking messages of conversation graphs in a messaging platform using predictive outcomes |
US11057322B1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2021-07-06 | Twitter, Inc. | Ranking messages of conversation graphs in a messaging platform using machine-learning signals |
US11516155B1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2022-11-29 | Twitter, Inc. | Hard and soft ranking messages of conversation graphs in a messaging platform |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20130219002A1 (en) | 2013-08-22 |
US8423905B2 (en) | 2013-04-16 |
US9363211B2 (en) | 2016-06-07 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9363211B2 (en) | Automatically populating recipients in an instant messaging or other computer communication system | |
US10171404B2 (en) | Reply to most recent message | |
US8677275B2 (en) | Illustrating a menu of insights associated with visualizations | |
US7543237B2 (en) | Dynamic collaboration assistant | |
US9690870B2 (en) | Email tags | |
CN109873745B (en) | Communication control method, communication control device and storage medium | |
US7634732B1 (en) | Persona menu | |
US8407600B2 (en) | Contact picker interface | |
US7895281B2 (en) | Method and system for excluding recipients in an electronic communication system | |
US20030233419A1 (en) | Enhanced email management system | |
US7519912B2 (en) | Method and system for sensing and communicating the use of communication modes by remote users | |
US6829607B1 (en) | System and method for facilitating user input by automatically providing dynamically generated completion information | |
US7313760B2 (en) | Contact picker | |
US7051049B2 (en) | Real-time chat and conference contact information manager | |
US9076131B2 (en) | Tracking interactive text-message communications | |
US10476829B2 (en) | Workflow and in-context E-mail recipient handling | |
US8359532B2 (en) | Text type-ahead | |
US9430538B2 (en) | Providing additional information and data in cooperation with a communication application | |
US20050246721A1 (en) | Electronic message object drop feature | |
EP2024872A2 (en) | System, method and technique for enabling users to interact and edit address fields of messaging applications |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION,NEW YO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LI, FUYI;DEVADASON, ANITA;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080709 TO 20080712;REEL/FRAME:021254/0906 Owner name: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, NEW Y Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LI, FUYI;DEVADASON, ANITA;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080709 TO 20080712;REEL/FRAME:021254/0906 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20170416 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HCL TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, INDIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:050374/0546 Effective date: 20190802 |